The monastery; The abbot.

132 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
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I give thee eighteenpence a-day,
And my bow shalt thou' bear,
And over all the north country,
I make thee the chief rydere.
And I thirteenpence a-day, quoth the queen,
By God and by my faye,
Come fetch thy payment when thou wilt,
No mal shall say thee nay.
WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLEY.
THE manners of the age did not permit the inhabitants of Glendearg to
partake of the collation which was placed in the spence of that ancient
tower, before the Lord Abbot and his attendants, and Sir Piercie Shafton.
Dame Glendinning was excluded, both by inferiority of rank and by sex,
for (though it was a rule often neglected) the Superior of Saint Mary's was
debarred from taking his meals in female society. To Mary Avenel the
latter, and to Edward Glendinning the former, incapacity attached, but it
pleased his lordship to require their presence in the apartment, and to say
sundry kind words to them upon the ready and hospitable reception which
they had afforded him.
The smoking haunch now stood upon the table; a napkin, white as snow,
was, with due reverence, tucked under the chin of the Abbot by the Refectioner; and nought was wanting to commence the repast, save the presence
of Sir Piercie Shafton, who at length appeared, glittering like the sun, in a
carnation-velvet doublet, slashed and puffed out with cloth of silver, his hat
of the newest block, surrounded by a hatband of goldsmith's work, while
around his neck he wore a collar of gold, set with rubies and topazes so
rich, that it vindicated his anxiety for the safety of his baggage from being
founded upon his love of mere finery. This gorgeous collar or chain, resembling those worn by the knights of the highest orders of chivalry, fell
down on his breast, and terminated in a medallion.
"We waited for Sir Piercie Shafton," said the Abbot, hastily assuming
his place in the great chair which the Kitchener advanced to the table with
ready hand.
"I pray your pardon, reverend father, and my good lord," replied that
pink of courtesy; " I did but wait to cast my riding slough, and to transmew myself into some civil form meeter for this worshipful company."
" I cannot but praise your gallantry, Sir Knight," said the Abbot, " and
your prudence, also, for choosing the fitting time to appear thus adorned.
Certes, had that goodly chain been visible in some part of your late progress, there was risk that the lawful owner might have parted company
therewith."
"This chain, said your reverence?" answered Sir Piercie; "surely it is
but a toy, a trifle, a slight thing which shows but poorly with this doubletmarry, when I wear that of the murrey-coloured double-piled Genoa velvet,
puffed out with ciprus, the gems, being relieved and set off by the darker
and more grave ground of the stuff, show like stars giving a lustre through
dark clouds."
"I nothing doubt it," said the Abbot, "but I pray you to sit down at the
board."
But Sir Piercie had now got into his element, and was not easily interrupted
-" I own," he continued, "that slight as the toy is, it might perchance have
had some captivation for Julian - Santa Maria!" said he, interrupting himself; "what was I about to say, and my fair and beauteous Protection, or
shall I rather term her my Discretion, here in presence! - Indiscreet hath